Binding strip affixing device



Oct. 20, 1942. A. w. ENGEL 2,299,266

BINDING STRIP AFFIXING DEVICE Filed July 10, 1941 i/ g v f 14 @ZerZWQzyeJ Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BINDING STRIP AF FIXING DEVICE.

Albert W. Engel, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 1941, Serial No. 401,761

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the production of transparencies, such as slides, intended for use in stereopticons and similar projectors, and one object of the invention is to provide a device for facilitating the assembly of the parts constituting such a slide.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for conveniently applying binder strips to the edges of the slide for securing together the cover glasses between which the picture element is held; and a further object is to provide guide means to insure the accurate placement of the assembled cover glasses and picture element'upon the adhesive strip before the same is folded over the edge of the slide and secured to its opposite faces in binding relation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved moistening device for preparing the adhesive binding strip for the binding operation, such device being designed and dimensioned to cooperate with a block of resilient material which temporarily supports the binding strip and which provides a groove for folding the strip and securing it adhesively to the slide as a part of the process of assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the resilient block with an adhesive strip placed therein and with a moistener embodying this invention positioned for moistening the adhesive strip.

Figure 2 is a perspective View illustrating the next step in the process with the moistened adhesive strip in place in the resilient block, and

with the guide element which is a feature of this invention secured in operative position.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a partially assembled slide positioned on the adhesive strip supported by the resilient block and in operative relation to the guide element associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showingthe slideforced into the groove of the block in the process invention, it is to be understood that I do not intend to limit the invention to the specific form or application disclosed, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Stereopticon slides and the like usually consist of two cover glasses with a transparent picture element secured between them, together with a proper masking sheet defining the outlines of the picture to be projected. Such transparent picture elements are frequently made on photographic film. The cover glasses, with the picture element and mask assembled between them, are secured permanently together at their edges by means of binding strips which may be of cloth or gummed paper. The present invention has to do with the applicationof such binding means in a rapid and convenient manner by means adapted to insure neatness and accuracy in the securement' of the binding element.

Preferably, the binding strip is cut to the length of one side of the slide to be finished, and, as shown in Figure 1, it may comprise a strip of gummed paper I, the uppermost surface being stipled in the drawing to indicate a layer of adhesive gum thereon. The corners of the strip may be mitered, as shown at l so that, if applied to all four edges of the slide, they will meet in abutting relation at the corners, and, in any event, they will present a pleasing and artistic appearance.

The device which serves for affixing the binding strips I to the slide is shown as a block 2 of elastic or resilient material, preferably such as rubber. This block is formed with a medial groove 3 which is approximately equal in width to the thickness of material to be bound. In the upper face of the block- 2 there is a recess 4 dimensioned to receive one of the binding strips I; and, preferably, the lateral; edges of the recess are formed as slightly overlapping lips 5 under which the edges of the strip l may be engaged and retained until withdrawn in the process of applying the strip to the slide. The bottom surface of the block includes a-channel 6 which, together with the medial groove 3, materially'reduces the vertical cross-section of the block at the middle, rendering it sufficiently flexible to permit the'side walls'of the groove to be pressed together manually, if this is deemed necessary, to secure firm adherence of the binding strip to th surfaces of the slide;

When the gummed binding strip' I hasbeen positioned in the recess 4 of: the block 2, as shown in-Figure 1, it is moistened in any convenient manner, but, preferably, by means of a special moistener which consists of a tubular handle I composed of Cellophane or like material, and enclosing a wick or filler 8 of absorbent fibrous material. A portion 8 of the filler 8 projects at one end of the tube 1 for contact with the adhesive strip I, and, preferably, the filler 8 is of substantially the same width as the recess 4 so that it fits between the lips and will be guided thereby as it is drawn longitudinally over the strip I for distributing moisture to the adhesive surface thereof. If the entire filler 8 has been allowed to absorb a substantial quantity of water, a slight pressure upon the flat, flexible walls of the tube may be employed to shift the moisture therein toward the exposed end Ii for distribution therefrom, as needed.

After the moistening of the strip I, as illustrated in Figure 1, the block 2 is fitted with.

a guide device 9 which, as shown, consists of a sheet metal member having a portion Ill en-' gaged flatly against the bottom of the block 2, a portion II which extends upwardl therefrom along one side of the block, and a portion I2 which overlaps the top surface of the block, as shown in Figure 2. The part I2 is preferably of double thickness, folded upon itself to form a smoothly rounded, straight edge I3 which extends over one side of the recess 4 in substantially vertical alignment with the adjacent side of the groove 3 so as to serve as a guide against which the face of one of the cover glasses A will be stopped when the assembly of the two cover glasses A, A, with interposed mask and picture elements, is disposed with its lower edge in contact with the upper and adhesive surface of the strip I. The gauge or guide member thus insures that the edge of the assembly to be bound is registered over the groove 3, so that slight downward pressure upon the slide assembly forces the middle portion of the strip. I into the slot 3 and serves to fold its lateral portions upwardly against the faces of the cover glasses A, A, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Further pressure may be applied to the side walls I4, I4 of the block 2, if desired, caus ing the narrow middle portion between the groove 3 and the channel 6 to flex slightly as the binding strip is pressed in firm contact with the cover glasses A, A. The assembled parts will then be removed from the groove 3, and the same process repeated for applying a binding to another edge of the slide.

The drawing shows one binding strip I fully applied to the upper edge of the slide assembly, and shows a second strip I in the process of application thereto. In some cases this will be sufiicient, although it will be obvious that two additional strips may be applied to the remaining edges of the slide, if desired. Preferably, the guide device 9 is made of sheet metal, so that it will be sufiiciently rigid to insure a firm, frictional engagement between the portions Ill and I2 and the surfaces of the block 2 which they contact. Obviously, other suitable material, such as a synthetic plastic, might be employed for the manufacture of this part; or instead of making itof bent sheet metal it might be cast or molded. Being frictionally secured to the block I2, it is readily removable therefrom and may be preferably omitted during the moistening of the adhesive, as illustrated in Figure 1. However, if desired, the adhesive stripmay be moistened before insertion in the; recess A, and may be slipped; into position from the end of the block if the gauge device I2 is already in place thereon.

It will be evident that by the use of my afiixing device in conjunction with the gauge herein described, the binding material may be conveniently and rapidly applied to a slide assembly, the gauge making it comparatively easy for a novice to produce an accurate and neat binding job, with the marginal portions of the binding strips evenly and uniformly distributed between the two sides of the slide, and firmly adherent thereto. Preferably, the block 2 is of substantially the same length as the slide, which is the same as the length of the binding strip I; therefore, in placing the strip I in the block 2 itis merely necessary to have the ends of the strip flush with the ends of the block, and, similarly, in placing the assembled parts of the slide, in position the lateral edges of the cover glasses A, A will be registered with the ends of the block 2. In this manner the block itself serves as a gauge to insure correct endwise positioning of the binding strip in relation to the edge of the slide.

I claim as my invention:

1. A binding strip affixing device comprising a block of resilient material having a groove approximately equal in width to the thickness of the material to be bound, the upper surface of the block having a shallow recess extending at both sides of the groove and dimensioned to receive and position an adhesive binding strip in flat form with its adhesive surface exposed upwardly for contact with the edge of the material to be bound, and a gauge attached to the block having a portion extending over one side of the recess providing stop means in substantially vertical alignment with the adjacent side of the groove whereby said gauge serves to position the material on the binding strip and over the groove, ready to be forced downwardly into said groove in the binding operation.

2. A binding strip afiixing device comprising a block of resilient material having a groove approximately equal in width to the thickness of the material to be bound, the upper surface of the block having a shallow recess extending; at both sides of the groove and dimensionedg to receive and position an adhesive binding strip, in flat form with its adhesive surface exposed upwardly for contact with the edge of the ma-- terial to be bound, and a gauge removably at-- tached to the block by means of spaced portions frictionally engaging the top and bottom surfaces of the block respectively, the top engaging portion providing stop means in substantially. vertical alignment with the adjacent side of the groove to serve as a gauge for positioning the material on the binding strip.

3. A binding strip afiixing device comprising a block of resilient material having a groove approximately equal in width to the thickness of the material to be bound, the upper surface of the block having a shallow recess extending at both sides of the groove and dimensioned to receive and position an adhesive binding strip in fiat form with its adhesive surface exposed upwardly for contact with the edge of the material to be bound, and a gauge formed of sheet material and including a part which extends flatly in contact with the bottom wall of the" block, a part engaging the top wall of the block and an intermediate portion connecting said parts, the top wall engaging part providing stop' means in substantially vertical alignment with terial to be bound, and a gauge formed of sheet material and including a part extending flatly in contact with the bottom wall of the block, a part engaging the top wall of the block and an intermediate portion connecting said parts, the top wall engaging part being folded upon itself to form a smooth, straight guide edge disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the adjacent side of the groove to serve for po- 10 sitioning the material on the binding strip.

ALBERT W. ENGEL. 

